Playing Provincial Proxy (MSS#3)

67. Person

Playing Provincial Proxy

Kabanata 67

“WAIT! MY ANKLE!” I harshly complained when he was about to drag me like he’s being chased by something.

“I’m sorry,” Thereon gently said when he realized something. Nabawasan ang kunot sa kanyang noo nang makita at mapagtanto ang kalagayan ko. “Let me carry you,”

“What? No!” Masyado atang malakas ang boses ko dahilan ng paglingon sa akin ng grupo ng mga babaeng sa tingin ko siyang narinig ko kanina. One of the girls shamelessly stared at Thereon from head to toe. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, kuminang pa ang mga mata niya bago bumulong sa katabing kaibigan. They both giggled and drooled. Umirap pa nang nakitang nakatingin ako sa kanila. Aba!

Completely unaware of his admirers, my then President Thereon looked up to me. Kumunot ang noo ko nang nakipagtinginan din sa kanya. The light coming from the bar counter shone rays upon his face, making his visage clearer to me. I am almost amazed and curious of how badly messed up he looks. Before, every time I see him, he always gives me the impression of a clean, serious, and uptight man. But right now, all I see is a messy, burdened and stressed guy. I don’t know how I was able to see through him given the impression that he’s totally mysterious but I think that whatever his burden is right now, he just can’t hide it. Or, he is also drunk? Tipsy?

“You have a sprain. How can you walk?”

Nabalik ako sa wisyo nang magsalita siya in his usual cold and commanding voice. I even doubt for a second all of my deductions earlier.

“We can talk here,”

Umigting ang panga niya. I don’t know what it is for. Is he annoyed of me? Another unusual thing about him! He’s a man of indifference and composure! The then Thereon Vuenavesta’s actions is never dictated by his feelings! For a fact, I never see him annoyed nor angry before! He’d always keep his cool! But now?

“We’ll talk somewhere else,” he said it with due finality that I cannot do anything but scream blatantly when he carried me in a bridal style without my permission. My scream is drowned by the large beat of the music. Feeling ko kahit magsisigaw ako, walang mag aakala na hina-harass na ako dahil sa ingay. Though, hindi naman ako hina-harass. Hindi ba?

“What the hell, Thereon!” sa wakas nahanap ko rin ang boses nang nasa labas na kami ng bar. Ang malamig na simoy ng hangin ay tila malambing na sampal sa aking mukha. I need to adjust my eyes first for the immediate darkness.

“Forgive me, Rural.” Thereon sighed bago ako ibinaba sa tapat ng isang sasakyan. Napasandal ako roon saglit habang binabawi ang balanse.

Masama ang tingin ko sa kanya habang seryoso at tila malungkot ang tingin niya sa akin. “What is wrong with you, Thereon? At ano bang pag uusapan natin?” naging mahina ang boses ko sa pangalawang tanong dahil sa banyagang emosyong ipinapakita niya sa akin. I tried to think about his probable intentions kahit medyo impluwensyado na ang utak ko ng alak. Ngunit wala talaga akong maisip na paksa sa kung ano ba talaga ang pakay ni Reon. Did he come here just to talk to me? Sa pagkakaalam ko, never ba siyang pumunta ng mga bar! He hates crowd and messy people! Yet, he is here! Hinilot ko ang aking sintido. Sumasakit ang ulo ko kakaisip.

Napakurap-kurap ako nang buksan niya ang shutgun seat ng sinsandalan kong sasakyan at iminuwestra sa akin. “Please, get in first…” he said instead of answering my question.

All right, I think I need to calm down. Walang mangyayari kung makikipag-pilitan ako sa lalaking ito. I’ve known him as the one who is used to command then being commanded.

“All right…” I gave in.

Just when I was about to enter his car and sit, napatigil ako nang makarinig ng isang malakas na suntok at pagbagsak. My wide eyes saw Reon dropped on the floor with freaking bleeding lips! Sinundan ko nang may pinaghalong gulat at pagtataka ang kung sino mang agresibong sumugod sa kanya!